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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Heraeus Sunlamp, Red Mill Cat, Perry Como Memorabilia

Harry Rinker — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:25:21 +0000

QUESTION: My wife bought a 1920s/1930s sunlamp as part of a “job [box] lot” at an estate auction many years ago. When I first saw the sunlamp, I thought it was an old electric heater and relegated it to the basement. In preparing for a garage sale, I decided to clean it. This is when I discovered it was a carbon arc sunlamp. The lamp is marked “AKTINARC / Ultra Violet Ray / Sun Lamp / 110 AC or DC 1000W / Model P / Lamp Division / Keene Chemical Co. / New York, USA.” “UVR Laboratories, Inc.” is embossed on the bottom of the pedestal. The sunlamp appears to be in decent shape—no damage or broken wires. The screen has no holes or dents. The cover of the circa 1926 cord is a bit frayed. I would not plug the sunlamp in for fear of blowing a breaker or worse. What is my sunlamp worth?

– R.H.; Bryan, Ohio

ANSWER: In 1904, Richard Küch, a physicist and chief developer of new products for Heraeus, Hanau, Germany, developed a mercury-vapor quartz glass lamp that produced ultraviolet light identical to sunlight. Küch discovered that mercury vapor gives off a shortwave, greenish light when electrical discharges stimulate the vapor in a glass tube. This ultraviolet radiation passes unhindered through quartz glass, which is stable at high temperatures.

Heraeus and AEG created Quarzlampengesellschaft mbH in 1906 to develop the “Original Hanau,” a lamp designed for use in medical phototherapy. The lamp produced the invigorating effect of mountain sunrays. It also was used for vitamin D prophylaxis and supportive therapy. As a result, the lamp became a standard fixture in doctors’ offices and hospitals. A separate “Original Hanau” brand, utilizing a “Sun Man” logo, was created in the 1920s.

Heraeus began marketing self-standing, single lamp tanning/wellness devices in the 1930s. In the 1950s, the company offered the Höhensonne, a home tanning lamp. It entered the tanning bed market in the late 1970s. In 2010, Heraeus is a world technology leader in dental health, quartz glass, precious metals, sensors and specialty lighting.

The growing popularity of home tanning attracted other companies, one of which was the Lamp Division of Keene Chemical Corporation. An advertisement for the company’s Palm Beach Sun Lamp in the February 1938 issue of “Popular Science” begins: “That pale, pasty, inefficient indoor look is a business and social handicap. Why put yourself at such a disadvantage when you can get a handsome healthy TAN everyone admires right from your own home. In 10 days you can radically improve your appearance—look like a million dollars—as if you had just returned from Palm Beach.”

Keene Chemical bragged in the advertisement that it was the first American manufacturer to offer a double arc (4 carbon) lamp. The deluxe model sold for $14.95 with other models priced as low as $7.50. Purchasers could put $1 down and pay the balance in installments, thus justifying the company’s claim of a “price so low that it is within reach of everyone.”

Purchasers were instructed to use the lamp no more than four minutes a day and not allow it closer than 20 inches. During this brief period, the Palm Beach Sun Lamp emitted the equivalent of 50 minutes of mid-summer sunlight.

As with the Heraeus lamps, Keene Chemical touted its lamp’s health benefits: “The new Palm Beach Lamp helps increase youthful vigor and vitality. Tends to stimulate glandular function. Often decidedly effective in listlessness and anemia. Children respond rapidly. Invaluable in the treatment of rickets. For any specific ailment be sure to consult your physician.”

Although there must be sunlamp collectors, I do not know any. Chances are strong that your sunlamp is among the more commonly found types. If correct, its principle value is decorative. A tanning salon wishing to display the sunlamp in its lobby as a conversation/curiosity piece is the most obvious buyer.

Given its condition and questionable working ability, the secondary decorative market value of your sunlamp is between $15 and $25.

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QUESTION: I was given my grandmother’s cat collection 10 years ago. A hand-carved cat figurine marked “RED MILL” was among the items. The cat is 6½ inches long, 4 inches wide and 5½ inches tall. It is heavy, weighing close to two pounds. It appears to be wood, but it could be a very hard plastic. When researching the cat on the Internet, I did find a reference to a duck decoy marked “RED MILL,” but nothing more. I would very much appreciate your input.

– S.M.; Rice Lake, Wis.

ANSWER: The Red Mill Manufacturing Company, located in Fishersville, Va., made your cat figurine. The company produced a wide variety of animal (beaver, eagle, horses, turkey and wolf) and human (Indians and cowboys) figurines. A foil sticker in addition to the body marking was used to identify the company’s products. Red Mill products were marketed through gift and novelty stores.

The figurines are molded from a crushed pecan shell and resin mixture. Local artists created the sculptures used to create the molds. When the figurines were removed from the molds, they were rubbed with a soft cloth to enhance the patina. The amount and color of the pecan shells produced a variety of brown tones. Off-while examples also were made and are more desirable to collectors.

The Red Mill Manufacturing Company ceased operations in 2001 due to the death of one of its owners. The molds were sold. Recasts are being made in China and marketed under the name Red Mill Craft Company.

Although collectible, the value of Red Mill figurines is low. A seller on Craig’s list is offering a wide range of animal and human figures for $10 plus shipping per item. A resting foal closed on eBay for $2.24 plus shipping.

The good news is that: 1) cat collectors love anything that remotely resembles a cat; and (2) they pay premium prices for things they love. As a result, the value of your Red Mill cat is between $10 and $15.

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QUESTION: Where can I buy something that once belonged to Perry Como?

– JG; via e-mail

ANSWER: Perry Como (Pierino Ronald Como) was born on May 18, 1921, in Canonsburg, Pa. Although Como’s popularity as a singer blossomed in the late 1930s, I knew him from the jukebox and black and white television. In the late 1940s, Como was featured on a Friday night television program on NBC along with the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Fontane Sisters. Como signed with CBS in 1950 and hosted his own television program for five years. He returned to NBC in 1955 and starred in the “Perry Como Show,” later the “Kraft Music Hall.” His show ended in 1963. Como also did a Christmas Eve special for ABC-TV starting in 1948 and ending in 1986. Como died on May 12, 2001.

Como’s cardigan sweaters were his trademark. Obtaining one of them should be your primary objective.

Authenticity (provenance) must be your first concern. Como’s cardigan became a standard male dress accessory in the early 1950s. Hundreds of thousands of mass-produced copies of his sweaters were sold. “It belonged to Perry Como” is not proof positive. A picture of Como wearing the sweater would enhance the documentation. However, this is not ample proof. How do you know it is the exact sweater? You should insist on nothing less than a detailed provenance, a list of the owners of the sweater from Perry Como to you. If there are gaps, walk away.

Your hunt will be an adventure. Check the Internet to see if any Como fan clubs remain. If they do, make your desires know. Contact the web master at perrycomo.net and ask if he/she can direct you to possible sources. Locate auction houses and galleries that conduct Hollywood memorabilia sales. These auctions often contain clothing from television stars as well.

http://www.perrycomo.net

Tracking down members of the family is a possibility, but a long-shot at best. You will not be the first person who has tried this method. Many of the antiques and collectibles trade periodicals offer business card advertising. The advertising is not expensive. If my previous suggestions fail, this is worth a try.

Good luck.

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QUESTION: I own a set of 12 square-shaped dishes featuring a relief motif of a pair of young cupids (nymphs) running in the open countryside in the center. The glaze is yellowish-orange. The dishes have chamfered corners and a concave indent in the middle of each edge. They are marked on the bottom “1801 / ITALY / 468.” What can you tell me about them?

– P.E.; Bethlehem, Pa. via e-mail

ANSWER: They were made in the mid- to late 1950s. The “1801” and “468” are production control or stock numbers. A production control number can designate the mold that was used to create the dishes, the person who applied the decorate glaze, or the individual who inspected the piece during production. A stock number allows a potential buyer to order quantities of the same item.

These dishes were sold primarily in Italian neighborhoods. I’m only going to get myself into trouble if I suggest the color and motif were something only an Italian could love.

At best the dishes are 1950s kitsch. Value for the set of 12 is less than $25. However, in a 1950s Modernism/Retro show, a dealer would have them priced at $75. The first price is reality. The second price is a dream.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

You can listen and participate in Harry’s antiques-and-collectibles radio call-in show “Whatcha Got?” on Sunday mornings between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern Time. It streams live on the Genesis Communications Network.

“Sell, Keep Or Toss? How To Downsize A Home, Settle An Estate, And Appraise Personal Property” (House of Collectibles, an imprint of the Random House Information Group), Harry’s latest book, is available at your favorite bookstore and via Harry’s Web site: http://www.harryrinker.com.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the 20th century. Selected queries will be answered on this site. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 22 Stillwater Circle, Brookfield, CT 06804. You can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered. Please indicate that these are questions for WorthPoint.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Goebel Figurine, Ocean Liner Silver-plate, ‘EROS’ magazine

Harry Rinker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:44:04 +0000

QUESTION: I have a Goebel figurine featuring a baby boy standing over a turtle. The trademark on the bottom, identical to the logo used on Hummel figurines, indicates the piece was made between 1972 and 1979. The bottom also has the initials “da.” All efforts to find out more about this piece have failed. Can you be of any help?

– KS, via e-mail

ANSWER: Franz Detleff Goebel, a porcelain merchant, and his son William founded Goebel in 1871. The firm, located in Oeslau (later renamed Rödental), Germany, initially made slate pencils and children’s marbles. Franz and William asked the Duke of Coburg for permission to build a porcelain factory. Fearing a fire, the Duke said no. Franz and William persisted and prevailed. Goebel produced its first porcelain pieces in 1879.

Goebel specialized in producing dinnerware and figurines. When the Depression struck, the firm expanded its product line to include ashtrays, bookends, candleholders and lamps. In March 1935 Goebel launched its line of M.I. Hummel figurines.

Although Hummel figurines were only one of many Goebel product lines, they are the focus of almost all research efforts. Finding information about Chariot Byj’s “Red Heads,” “Co-Boy” figurines, Blumenkinder, Friar Tuck and other Goebel lines made during the 1970s is difficult.

Since no pictures accompanied your e-mail, I cannot provide further help. You might have one of Chariot Byj’s “Red Heads” (there are more than 100 child figures in the series) or “Blondes” (16 figures in the series). The Blumenkinder series depicts boys and/or girls experiencing common events.

Send a picture of your figurine to the Goebel Porzellanmuseum (Coburger Strasse 7, Rödental Germany) and ask them to provide the history of your piece. If this fails, then consider a trip to Rödental to do your own research.

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QUESTION: I recently purchased a handled, small, silver-plated bowl on a pedestal base. I would not have given it much thought, but the “R.M.S. SAXONIA” engraved on its side attracted my interest. Are items from 1940s/1950s ocean liners collectible?

– IA, Toronto, Canada, via e-mail

ANSWER: On February 17, 1954, Cunard Lines launched the 21,637 gross-ton RMS Saxonia, one of the last ships built for the transatlantic passenger trade. Lady Winston Churchill christened the ship. This was the second ship in the Cunard fleet that utilized this name; the first RMS Saxonia was built in 1905 and retired in 1925.

In 1962 the RMS Saxonia was refitted and renamed the RMS Carmania. The liner traveled the Caribbean and Mediterranean in the winter and spent the balance of the year on the Rotterdam-Southampton-Canada runs. Due to changes in U.S. fire regulations for passenger ships, the RMS Carmania had to cancel a 1968 trip from Port Everglades. Renovations were made, and the ship left Port Everglades in January 1969 only to run aground on a sandbank off San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Three months later it collided with the Frunze, a Russian vessel.

Black Sea Shipping, a Russian company, bought the ship in August 1973 and renamed it Leonid Sobinov. It ended its service in October 1995 registered to Valletta of Malta.

Ocean liner passengers frequently borrowed or liberated (polite terms for lifted or stole) table accessories such as creamers, napkin holders, sugars, salt and pepper shakers, or similar smalls. Perhaps this is why transoceanic companies preferred silver plate rather than sterling as the metal of choice for tableware accessories.

Secondary market value rests primarily on the reputation of the ship. Whatever knowledge I may have had about the RMS Saxonia was lost until my Google search. The value of your silver-plated bowl is between $20 and $25, perhaps a little more to a collector of Cunard liner items.

Ocean liner memorabilia was a hot collectible in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The market has cooled considerably, caused in part by the end of the golden age of transoceanic liner travel. Few are willing to invest seven days in an Atlantic crossing that can now be done in seven to nine hours in the air.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: What does RMS stand for when used in a ship’s title?

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QUESTION: I have copies of the first four issues of “EROS” magazine. The issues have a hard rather than soft cover. Do they have any value?

– DF, Fargo, ND

ANSWER: Ralph Ginzberg edited “EROS,” a quarterly hard cover magazine devoted to eroticism. Volume One, Number One was issued on Valentine’s Day 1962. Only four issues of the magazine were published. “EROS” is tame by today’s sexual standards. However, it created a major controversy at the time.

“EROS,” named for the Greek god of love and desire, was part of the 1960s sexual revolution. Contributors included Albert Ellis, Nat Hentoff, and Arthur Herzog. Topics covered a wide variety of sexual issues in areas such as art, history, literature and politics. Herb Lubalin, a leading typrographer/art director of the era, created the layouts. Ginsburg pushed the envelope of propriety by publishing Ralph M. Hattersley, Jr.’s interracial love photo essay as well as Bert Stern’s portfolio of a nude Marilyn Monroe.

Ginzberg’s three million direct-mail circulars promoting the magazine caused a bigger stir than the magazine. The Postmaster General received more than 25,000 letters of complaint. Ginzberg was charged with “sending obscene matter through the mails” in violation of the 1873 Comstock Act. In December 1963, Ginzberg was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. Appeals delayed his incarceration for 10 years. He began serving his five-year sentence at the Lewisburg (Pa.) Penitentiary on Feb. 17, 1972. He was paroled eight months later.

Sets of the four “EROS” issues are very common. It is not the type of publication that subscribers tended to discard once they finished reading it. Number 1, 2, and 4 list for around $30 per volume. Number 3, the issue containing the Marilyn Monroe photographs, books for around $90. Full sets sell at a reduced rate as opposed to a premium. Asking prices range from $90 to $120. They are a tough sell. Every collector who wants a set has one. New collectors wait to buy until they find a set at a bargain price. As time passes, “EROS” will become but a footnote in the history of the 1960s-1970s sexual revolution and Ralph Ginzberg largely forgotten.

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QUESTION: My father died and left me a collection of a dozen Frederic Remington bronze statues, one of which has a label reading “Frederic Remington / Coming Thru the Rye.” He acquired them over the years at auctions and local art galleries. Do they have any value?

– AR, Buffalo, NY

ANSWER: Let’s start with basics. The chances of your father’s Frederic Remington sculptures being period pieces are somewhere between slim and none. They are reproductions. Assuming this, the only questions remaining are (1) the quality of the reproductions and (2) their resale value.

Reproductions of Remington sculptures have existed for decades. They were a popular “salted” auction item in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Most were made by a reproduction bronze casting manufacturer located near Chattanooga, Tenn. “Salted” is a term used when an auctioneer adds newly purchased reproductions (exact copies), copycats (stylistic reproductions) and fakes (items deliberately meant to deceive) to an estate auction hoping buyers will assume that the new items are part of the estate and, hence, older than they really are.

Several contemporary bronze manufacturers offer reproduction copies of Remington’s “Coming Thru the Rye,” as well as several dozen of his other sculptures. Bronze Works sells a 29-inch-by-28-inch version for $1,899 or a “museum quality” version for $3,299. F & R Bronze lists a 29-inch-by-30-inch version for $2,737, but discounts it at $2.295. Bronze Direct offers a 30-inch-by-30-inch version for $2,500.

The issue is not what these reproductions sell for new, but what they achieve in the secondary market. I nearly fell off my chair laughing when I encountered a Craigslist listing by a Houston seller asking $3,750 for a “collector edition,” #44 of #100, of “Coming Thru the Rye.” You never know; there are plenty of fools out there.

When reproduction Remington statues appear on the secondary market, anything over a dime on the initial purchase dollar makes the seller a winner. The quality of these Remington reproductions is poor to fair at best. Their only value is decorative. They are not—repeat NOT—works of art, no matter what the certificate of authenticity that accompanies many of them states.

The good news is that these statues do sell at 10 to 15 cents on the dollar on eBay. At the moment, the collection of Remington reproductions in your basement is worthless, until you decide to sell. Whatever you get when you sell them is more money than you have now. My advice is to send them to a reputable auctioneer or list them on eBay and to let them ride.

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TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER: RMS means Royal Mail Ship, a designation used by the British for a ship authorized to carry British and US mail.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: World’s Fair Doll, Jefferson Bible, Heileman Brewery Ad

Harry Rinker — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:54:28 +0000

QUESTION: Several years ago I purchased a Charlie McCarthy-type composition-head doll. Printed on the left pocket area of the doll’s orange jacket is “NEW / YORK / WORLD / FAIR / (Trylon and Perisphere logo flanked by ‘1939’) / © NYWF.” There is a pull string that extends from the back of the head that allows the doll’s lips to move. It no longer works. The composition head is deteriorating. What information can you provide about this doll and its value?

– AD, Youngstown, Ohio

ANSWER: My reference library, which contains several books about World’s Fair memorabilia and the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair memorabilia in particular, is currently packed in boxes in the auditorium of my home/school in Vera Cruz, Pa. As a result, I had to rely on the Internet, not always the best information source.

I did not find any reference to this specific doll. However, I discovered that the 1939-1940 World’s Fair Committee issued several licenses for “official” World’s Fair dolls. Further, many of the foreign pavilions sold native-costume dolls in their gift shops.

The pictures that accompanied your e-mail alleviated any doubts I may have had that this was not an officially licensed doll. The jacket color is ample proof. Orange and blue are the dominant colors found on 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair memorabilia. The orange of the doll’s jacket is an exact match to the Fair’s orange color tone.

Thanks to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, who were at the peak of their popularity in the mid- to late 1930s, ventriloquism was enjoying a renaissance. “The Home Workshop” section of the June 1938 issue of “Modern Mechanix” contained Kenneth Murray’s article entitled “Popsy: A Simply Made but very lifelike dummy for the amateur ventriloquist.” It only makes sense that the New York World’s Fair Committee would license a ventriloquist doll.

The tragedy is the condition of the doll’s head. It is beyond repair. Not only is it cracked but the back half appears to be splitting off from the front half.

When encountering an object in this condition, you should walk away no matter how alluring it may seem. The only value in respect to the doll you own is its clothing. It can be switched to a World’s Fair doll whose head and body are in better condition, but whose clothing is badly faded or torn.

Its worth at the moment is under $25. In very good condition, the doll is valued between $125 and $150.

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QUESTION: My father has a Jefferson Bible. The last time I visited him in Oregon, I asked him to show it to me. I believe it is one of the 9,000 copies distributed in 1904. He paid a dollar for it at an antiques shop. I have no idea how much it is worth, but have a feeling that it should be insured. Can you help?

– RP, Lehigh Valley, Pa., via e-mail

ANSWER: Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1783 – July 4, 1826), third president of the United States, had a strong interest in ethics, morals, philosophy, and Christianity, which he referred to as the “Christian System.” He was a deist, believing in the power of a supreme being as the creator and man’s ability to use reason and observation of the world about him to understand his divinity. Christ was a great teacher, but not the son of God.

Jefferson cut apart the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and arranged the texts in chronological order. The result was his “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,” completed in 1820. While Jefferson showed it to a few friends, he never published it.

The manuscript eventually came into the possession of Thomas Jefferson Randolph, his grandson. Working with the National Museum in Washington, he published Jefferson’s work in 1895. In 1904 Congress authorized a new edition. New members of Congress received a copy. Eventually Jefferson’s text entered the public domain. More than a dozen editions are in print today, for examples, a 2004 Akashic Books paperback, 2006 Applewood Books hardcover, and a 2006 Dover Publications paperback.

The 1904 Congressional edition was published by the Government Printing office. There are reference points that indicate that your example is not the 1904 Congressional edition. First, the publisher is Geo. W. Ogilvie & Co. of Chicago. Second, the title page clearly indicated that your book is a “reprint,” something the Congressional edition does not do. The advertisements in the back, such as the one for “Conklin’s Vest-Pocket Argument Settler,” would never appear in a government publication. Finally, it is the wrong size, binding style, and cover color.

Your example, however, is one of the early editions, most likely printed before 1915. The pictures attached to your e-mail indicate the book is in poor to fair condition.

1904 Congressional editions in good condition or better usually retail on the secondary market for $750 or more. Your edition has a secondary market value between $40 and $50. Professionally rebound, its value will double, possibly even triple.

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QUESTION: In the past, you answered an e-mail question from “VK” about a G. Heileman Brewing Company advertising piece featuring a printed image on canvas of a French Cavalier holding a bottle of beer in one hand and a full glass in salute in the other. I have the same print on canvas. I acquired it about 12 years ago when the dad of an old girlfriend who had it hanging in his basement passed away. I do not know when he obtained it, but I believe he had it as far back as the 1950s or earlier. I recently came across Paul Koeller’s and David DeLano’s “Brewed with Style: The Story of the House of Heileman.” The image is pictured in the book. My print is in a copper-colored cheap wood frame. I have searched the Internet and cannot find another example with the frame. My question is simple. If I removed the print and had it professionally framed in a nicer frame, would this deter from the print’s value?

– JG, via e-mail

ANSWER: The answer is yes, if the frame on the print on canvas is period—that is to say, started out life with the print. If the print was framed initially, the frame is an integral part of the complete unit. If the frame is missing, the print is considered incomplete.

This was barroom and beer distributor advertising, made to hang on a wall for a few years and then discarded. While well made, it was done as cheaply as possible.

The color tones of the late 1950s were turquoise, copper, and chrome. Hence, the copper color on the frame is a strong hint that the frame is period.

My recommendation is to continue your research and do nothing to the print and its frame. If after another year or two you can find no evidence that the frame is period, then replace it.

How about a little help from the G. Heileman Brewing Company collectors among my readers? Is the frame period or not? E-mail the answer to me at harrylrinker@aol.com.

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QUESTION: I have a “Carigas Emergency Gasoline Can” that my Dad gave me approximately 35 years ago. As I recall, he mentioned that it came with a Model A or Model T Ford. I am not certain which one he specified. He carried it behind the seat in the event he ran out of gas. I checked for this item on eBay and was unable to find anything like it. Any information that you can offer regarding its resale value would be greatly appreciated.

– WT, Lehigh Valley, Pa., via e-mail

ANSWER: This is one of those cases where I know what you have, but I do not know what you have. As indicated by the images that accompanied your e-mail, a label on the can reads: Aetna Sales Co. / Baltimore.” My first thought was that the Aetna Insurance Company used the can as a form of advertising. In 1913 Aetna established its Automobile Insurance Company for the purpose of writing fire insurance on cars. But, is it the correct Aetna?

Google research resulted in a number of hits for an Aetna Oil Company, which was based primarily in Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois and was part of Ashland after a 1948 merger. I found sale listings for several Aetna Oil Company maps and other memorabilia. None had a logo that was remotely close to the one on your can.

I failed to find any information on an Aetna Sales Co. located in Baltimore. However, I did find a WorthPoint.com reference for an almost identical can. The can pictured on WorthPoint.com had an extra information strip beneath the Aetna Sales Co. logo. The listing indicated the can was patented on March 3, 1925. The color scheme of the can, red background with yellow and black label information, is a typical Art Deco color pattern.

I also was not able to establish if this emergency gas can was standard equipment on a Ford Model A. I strongly suspect that it was not.

After reviewing the pictures you sent, your “Carigas Emergency Gasoline Can” is in fair to good condition. Its secondary market retail value is between $15 and $20. Its wholesale value is around $6.00 to $8.00. The principal buyer is someone who owns a Ford Model A and wishes to acquire the can to add a bit of ambiance to his car presentation.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Gerber Baby Lithograph, Narumi China, Swiss Link Bracelet

Harry Rinker — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:37:52 +0000

QUESTION: In cleaning out the house, I found an old Gerber Baby lithography dated 1931. It is in excellent condition and measures 8 ½ inches by 11 inches. Does it have any value?

– BS, E-mail Question

ANSWER: Frank Daniel Gerber and his son Daniel Frank Gerber owned and operated the Fremont Canning Company, located in Fremont, Mich., specializing in the canning of fruits and vegetables. In 1927 Daniel’s wife Dorothy was hand-straining foods to feed to Sally, their 7-month-old baby. She asked Daniel to do the straining at the company’s plant. Frank and Daniel realized the end product had commercial value. After several months of testing, Fremont Canning introduced its first Gerber baby food in 1928.

Prior to the launch, the Gerbers invited artists to submit artwork for a Gerber baby for use in the company’s promotion. The company received hundreds of works in a variety of mediums from oil to pen and ink. Dorothy Hope Smith (1895-1955), who specialized in children’s paintings and sketches, submitted what she felt was an unfinished charcoal sketch of four-month old Ann Turner of Westport, Conn. Smith’s sketch—which she offered to finish if accepted—of Turner with tousled hair, bright eyes and round, pursed lips was selected. The company liked the image as submitted. Smith was paid $300 and did not receive royalties. In 1951, Gerber paid Ann Turner Cook a one-time cash settlement of $5,000 for the rights to use her image.

That first year, 590,000 cans of Gerber baby food was sold. Smith’s Gerber baby image became the official trademark in 1931. The image has appeared on all Gerber packing and advertising. The Fremont Canning Company became Gerber Products in 1941. In 1996 a new label was introduced.

[Author’s Asides: All rumors that the Gerber baby was a sketch of Humphrey Bogart or Elizabeth Taylor are false. Gerber did not reveal the name of the baby at the family’s request. Ann Turner Cook, a retired English teacher and mystery novelist (“Micanopy in Shadow,” “Homossa Shadows” and “Shadow over Cedar Key”) living in Florida, eventually revealed her identity. Dorothy Hope Smith also did illustrations for Putnam children’s books and advertising images for Ivory Snow and Lux.]

Gerber issued several lithograph editions of Dorothy Hope Smith’s Gerber Baby sketch. The most common is a 1930 black and white lithograph numbered S4-71. It measures approximately 8 inches by 10 inches. The initials “DHS,” which appear in the baby’s left shoulder area, are part of the lithography. The quality of the lithography is such that when famed, many individuals confuse it for a charcoal sketch. Unframed images sell in the $25 to $35 range.

I found one dealer offering what appears to be a hand-colored version of the black and white image for $175. The seller also suggested the sketch was a period piece actually done by Smith. First, it is unlikely that Smith would have done duplicate images that are exact matches for the printed lithograph image. Second, black and white images are often color enhanced to increase their value. Caveat emptor—let the buyer beware.

Finally, I also discovered a listing for a larger size lithograph image that measures 24 inches by 30 inches. However, there was no date or value information.

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QUESTION: I have 12 to 14 place settings of Narumi China dinnerware in Shasta Pine (Pattern #5012). There are many accessories pieces—for example bowls and platters—in various sizes. There also is a tureen. I remember the dinnerware being used at Easter and Christmas. What is my dinnerware worth?

– KF, via e-mail

ANSWER: Narumi China Corporation, a manufacturer of bone china and plates for electromagnetic cooking, is a member of the Aichi-Brand Group. Its bone china products include dinnerware, giftware, hotel and restaurant china, and infant china.

The company traces its origin back to Imperial Seito, a china manufacturer, founded in 1911. The company later changed its name to Nagoya Seito. In 1938, Nagoya Seito built a plant in Narumi, which was acquired by Sumitomo Metal in 1943. Dinnerware was first made in 1946. The company became Narumi China Corporation in 1950. In 1965, Narumi first imported “bone” china to the U.S. market. In 2010, it is the second largest tableware manufacturer in Japan.

Narumi’s Shasta Pine pattern appeared on two body colors—white and cream. Judging from the number of examples that I found on china replacement Web sites, the pattern was extremely popular.

Valuing dinnerware is tricky. There are essentially four values for each form: (1) the price charged by replacement services; (2) the price charged by dealers; (3) the price brought at auction; and (4) the price obtained on Internet auctions such as eBay. Replacements, Ltd. lists a cup and saucer in cream at $19.99. Don’s Antiques in Brighton, Ill., lists the cup and saucer in cream at $20. China Lane offers the cup and saucer at $16.50. The same cup and saucer sold on eBay for $3.99. Five-piece place settings sell on eBay between $32.50 and $40.

The value in any dinnerware service rests in its serving pieces. The secondary market retail value of your dinnerware service is between $750 and $900. Depending on the auction, it would realize between $450 and $500.

My recommendation, as it is to everyone who owns dinnerware services, is to use it to create memories. If you do this, you create the possibility one of your children or grandchildren will want it. If you are not going to use it, then sell it. Use the money to buy something you will.

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QUESTION: I inherited a link bracelet that belonged to a relative who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe in the early 1950s. A rectangular label on the bracelet is marked: “Made in Switzerland / Plaque Orl / 20 Microns / AGGA / Geneve.” What is it worth?

– J, Belvidere, N.J.

ANSWER: “Plaque Orl” indicates that your bracelet is gold plated. As a result, it has no metal melt value. Value rests solely upon a collector or other buyer’s interest in wearing it.

I found a listing that suggested the link system was called a “panther link,” but I could not confirm this from another source. All the examples I located contained five rows of links.

The values spread over a wide range. A dealer listed a 7 /12-inch-long by 15/16-inches-wide example in very good condition for $125. A similar example in fine condition closed on eBay on Jan. 17, 2010 at $50. Did a dealer buy the eBay examples for inventory? It is possible.

Although some will argue to the contrary, the secondary market value of many objects is determined by what they bring on eBay. Of course, it is essential that multiples of the object be sold and the market constantly retested before a reliable secondary market value becomes reliable.

Given the above, the value of your 1950s link bracelet is between $40 and $50—proof, once again, that when buying commonly found objects, it pays to comparison shop.

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QUESTION: I brought a horse and jockey decorative piece at an antiques show in Michigan a few years ago. At that time, it was used as part of a weathervane. On the left side of the green bar to which the horse is attached is what appears to be “© c. ferie 1982.” Because it has been out in the weather, it has some rust on it. I was told by an antiques appraiser that its value is between $1,000 and $1,500. Do you agree?

– LM, Lansing, Ill.

ANSWER: No, I do not. After studying the pictures that accompanied your letter and the information you provide, the horse and sulky with jockey weathervane appears to be a modern reproduction that has been artificially aged.

If the 1982 is a copyright (the © symbol) date, which I am assuming it is, it confirms the relatively recent origin of the piece. The quality of workmanship and the design of the horse also suggest this.

Admittedly, almost 30 years has passed since the weathervane was made. However, historic weathervane collectors want 18th, 19th and very early 20th century examples. Any mass-produced piece, which you weathervane is, made after 1920 has limited secondary market value.

In researching your piece, I found an example offered for sale at auction for $40. The $1,000 figure is way too high. My recommendation is to think $150 to $200 tops.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: ‘Blank’ Sled, Vintage Book, Barbara Ota Dolls

Harry Rinker — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:34:14 +0000

QUESTION: I recently acquired a PENGUIN sled. It is old—the wood, metal, and paint show quite a bit of aging. The stencil of the PENGUIN logo is fading, and there is some rust on the metal parts. There are numbers painted on the underside of the wood slats, either “688 B” or “688 R.” There may have been other numbers, but I am not able to make them out. What information can you provide?

– ER, Jacksonville, Fla., via e-mail

ANSWER: I also struck out trying to research this sled on the Internet. Believing strongly that human is often far better than electronic intelligence (something the CIA seems loath to learn), I contacted Joan Palicia, author of “Great Sleds & Wagons,” published by Schiffer Books in 2009.

Joan also did not recognize the name. She informed me, however, that many companies made “blank” sleds under contract for hardware wholesalers, department stores, or mail catalog merchants. “If you can send me a picture of the sled, I am certain I can tell you who made it,” she said. I forwarded the three pictures of the sled attached to your e-mail.

Within less than an hour, Joan e-mailed that your sled was made by Garton, one of the largest manufacturers of blank sleds. Your sled is Garton’s Comet #9060 model, patented on August 31, 1937, but not manufactured until the mid to late 1950s.

Eusebius B. Garton produced his first mass-produced wooden coaster wagon in 1887. The line quickly expanded to express wagons, parlor swings, toy chairs and sleds. Garton created The Garton Toy Company, located in Sheboygan, Wis., in 1889.

Clarence Garston, Eusebius’s son, became president of the company in 1915. In 1916, Garton produced its first steerable sleds, the Eskimo, Dreadnaught and Torpedo Racer. Garton acquired the Globe Company in 1937 and Pratt Mfg. Company in 1952. Garton also gained control of Kalamazoo, another leading sled manufacturer, in the 1950s. Monitor Corporation acquired Garton in 1973 and ceased operations in 1975. The former Garton Sheboygan plant has been converted into residential apartments.

An article by Bob Brooke entitled “A Short History of Sleds and Sledding in America” that appeared in “AntiqueWeek” noted: “The Garton Toy Company marketed its sled with the Garton Trademark, but many retailers contracted with Garton to put their own designs and brand names over the Garton frame. For instance, the Coast to Coast Apollo Sled, The Gambles Sled, and Ace Hardware Sled were none other than The Garton Eskimo, Royal Racer, and the classiest of all, the Silver Streak. Garton produced 8,500 sleds a week annually from June to Thanksgiving which was approximately 15 percent of its overall business.”

Richards & Conover Hardware Company of Kansas City, Missouri, was one of the largest sellers of Garton blank sleds. Established in the last quarter of the 19th century, I found catalog evidence the company was still in business in 1955. However, I was not able to establish a direct link between Richards & Conover and your PENGUIN sled.

The value of your sled is between $25 and $35.

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QUESTION: I purchased a copy of “Crest and Chasm of the Continent,” published by the Williamson-Haffner Engraving Company and copyrighted 1905, at an auction in Tennessee in spring 2009. The book, with its 24 color plates, is in near excellent to excellent condition. The book also has its period shipping sleeve, although it is heavily worn on the edges. In researching the Internet, I found a wide variety of prices. What is my book worth?

– BP, Turtle Lake, Wis., via e-mail

ANSWER: What you paid for it at auction is the most obvious answer. Worth is a momentary phenomenon. Sale establishes an object’s worth at a specific moment in time. A change in circumstances alters value.

[Author’s Aside: Although willing to share where and when something was bought, individuals almost never tell me what they paid. I wish they would.

A listener of WHATCHA GOT?, my nationally syndicated antiques and collectibles radio show, called to inquire about the value of a Chinese opium scale he had purchased at auction. Prior to his call, he e-mailed me a picture. “What did you pay?” I asked. He said be bought it for $350. I am rarely lost for words, but this was one of those moments. It did not appear to be worth anywhere near this amount. The listener indicated the bidding was brisk, and he felt lucky to have won it. I told him that as long as he was satisfied with what he paid, the price was valid from his perspective. However, I advised him to be more familiar with the value of things on which he planned to bid in the future.

Human nature being what it is, what “Rinker on Collectibles” readers really want me to tell them is that they got a bargain, a “real steal.” What they do not want me to say is: “You may have set a world’s price record.” Individuals are embarrassed when I inform them they paid entirely too much, hence the primary reason for their unwillingness to share what they paid.]

The Web site abebooks.com is the first place to which I turn when researching the value of old books. Desiring to see why BP was confused, I did a search for “Crest and Chasm of the Continent” and found 12 listings. After reviewing the listings, I identified several reasons for BP’s confusion.

It is hard to make apple to apple comparisons in the antiques and collectibles field. At the same time, “close but no cigar” is not acceptable. The good news is that there appears to have been only one printing of the book, thus eliminating the issue of multiple printings and editions.

All the books listed were in fair to good condition. There were no copies in near excellent to excellent condition. My suspicion is that BP has over estimated the condition of the copy he purchased. Book collectors are tough graders. Their condition standards are very high. As a result what looks excellent to a non-collector is good to very good at best to a book collector.

Four of the copies were offered by foreign booksellers—two from Australia and one each from Germany and Italy. Shipping costs exceeded $25. One Australian dealer offered the book for $9.39 plus $25 shipping. Eliminate the foreign listings from any evaluation.

It is becoming increasingly more common for booksellers to offer a book at a low value and recoup part of the missing profits by jacking up the shipping costs. The United States Postal Services media rate is affordable. Any shipping charge above $4 for a standard size hardback is excessive.

American sellers are asking between $20 and $50 for copies in good to very good condition. These numbers indicate a limited buyers’ market for this title. Most buyers will cut the book apart, mat the color prints, and sell them separately. The decorative value approach will triple to quadruple what the book is worth as a bound title. Also, the one thing that all books listed for sale on the Internet have in common is that they have not sold. Values asked are negotiable.

The color plates are scenic views in Colorado. The book’s maximum value is in the Southwest.

If BP paid $25 for his copy at auction, he did fine. If he paid $50, he bought at top dollar. If BP paid more than $50, he may well have set a new price record. This often happens when an individual is victimized by auction fever.

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QUESTION: I own a limited-edition doll designed by Barbara Ota. Although I found numerous Barbara Ota dolls listed on the Internet, I could not find one that identically matched the numbers on the back of the head of my doll. How can I determine the value of my doll?

– D, Evansville, Ill.

ANSWER: Barbara Ota was active in the Doll Artisan Guild (D.A.G.) in the early to mid-1990s. The non-profit D.A.G. was founded to support those individuals crafting porcelain dolls. The D.A.G. conducts doll-making classes, publishes a magazine, holds conventions, and awards several prizes. The Millie is awarded for the best reproduction of an antique doll. If an artisan wins the award for a second time, she receives a Gold Rosette. Barbara Ota was awarded a Gold Rosette in October 1996 at the D.A.G. convention in San Mateo, Calif.

My attempts to find detailed biographical information about Barbara Ota met with failure. I did find several of her dolls listed under “Premier Artist,” but all attempts to find information about this company failed as well.

Her dolls were not cheap when sold. Selling prices ranged from $150 to $175, with editions numbering between 1,000 and 1,500. An Ota doll offered for sale on eBay for $99 indicated that it sold new initially for $450 in 1996. Each new head designed by Ota was given a name. Lindsay and Rebecca are two examples.

While I cannot provide any supporting evidence for what follows, I suspect Ota dolls were offered for sale by one or more of the home shopping channels. However, I found no listings that talked about a certificate of authenticity, a fact that suggests they may not have been sold in this venue.

In any case, the secondary resale market for Barbara Ota dolls, as for so many home shopping channel artisan dolls, appears to be between 10 and 20 percent of their initial purchase cost. Auction prices realized suggest a value between $30 and $35, not good news for those who bought Ota dolls as investments.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Froggy the Gremlin, Sambo Record, Flexible Flyer Sled

Harry Rinker — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:03:11 +0000

QUESTION: I have a rubber frog squeeze toy. The frog is wearing a red jacket, white shirt with four black buttons, white bowtie, white gloves, and black shoes. When I place my finger over the back-hole and squeeze, the tongue pops out. What can you tell me about this toy?

– D, Newton, N.J.

ANSWER: You own a Froggy the Gremlin squeeze toy. Rempel introduced the toy in 1948 and marketed several variations through the mid-1950s.

On Sept. 2, 1944, the “Smilin’ Ed’s Buster Brown Gang,” a children’s radio show sponsored by the Buster Brown Shoe Company, first appeared on radio. R. F. Outcault created the Buster Brown comic strip in 1902. A 1929 attempt by CBS to create a syndicated Buster Brown radio show failed. By the late 1930s, the Buster Brown strip was in decline. Buster Brown survived primarily as the spokes-character for the Buster Brown Shoe Company.

The “Smilin’ Ed’s Buster Brown Gang” radio show was an immediate hit. Ed McConnell (1892-1954), a vaudeville banjo player and singer who had transitioned to radio in 1922, was the host. The show aired on NBC radio on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. until April 11, 1953. Frank Ferrin produced and Arthur Jacobson directed the show. Hobart Donavan wrote the script and the comic book giveaways.

The cast of characters included Buster Brown, Froggy the Gremlin, Midnight the Cat, Squeaky the Mouse, and Tige, Buster Brown’s dog. Ed McConnell voiced Froggy. When McConnell had to sing a duet with Froggy, G. Archibald “Archie” Presby, an NBC staff announcer, became Froggy. June Forary voiced Midnight. Bud Tollefson, a sound effect engineer, provided Tige’s growling. Other cast members included Conrad Dinyoh, John Dehner, Wendall Noble and Jimmy Ogg.

Froggy the Gremlin was a mischievous, rambunctious character. He had no respect for authority. He was a bad-apple clown. Froggy appeared when Smilin’ Ed said, “plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!!” arriving with a hearty “hiya kids, hiya, hiya!”

Ed McConnell’s “Smilin’ Ed’s Buster Brown Gang” premiered on NBC television on Aug. 26, 1950, and continued to May 19, 1951. It was broadcast at 6:30 p.m. The television show moved to ABC for two seasons (Aug. 11, 1951 to April 11, 1953), airing at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. It returned to NBC on Aug. 22, 1953 at its 10:30 a.m. time slot. McConnell served as host until his death in 1954. The show appeared on NBC as “Andy’s Gang,” hosted by Andy Divine (1905-1977), on Aug. 20, 1955.

[Visit, the Froggy the Gremlin Web site created by Ronald Stone to learn more about Froggy, Ed McConnell, and Andy Devine.]

Rempel’s Froggy the Gremlin came in two sizes. The 9-inch version has a black bowtie and the Rempel logo stamped on his backside. The 5-inch version has a white bowtie and the Rempel logo stamped on the back of his head. Rempel licensed Froggy to a Canadian company. Their Froggy toys are marked “Rempel/Canada. There is an unmarked version made by The Leisure Group, Medina, Ohio. It is 9 ½ inches tall and has the squeaker in the foot. Do not confuse Froggy with Rempel’s two other frog squeeze toys—Croaker and Peeper.

Rempel’s Froggy the Gremlin often does not survive in good, squeaking condition. The rubber can flatten and/or become hard. Collectors want examples that work. Period package also is critical to value.

In 2007, a 9-inch Froggy in his period box in near mint condition on eBay sold for $661. What a difference a few years makes. Today Froggy would bring half that amount. In talking with Ronald Stone, he told me the secondary market for Froggy material was falling. Most collectors had obtained the examples they wanted and new collectors were not entering the market.

The white bowtie indicates you own the 5-inch example. Assuming your Froggy is in very good condition (all surface paint intact and still squeaking), its value is between $75 and $100. See the “Buster Brown” and “Smilin’ Ed McConnell” category listings in Ted Hake’s “The Official Price Guide to Pop Culture Memorabilia: 150 Years of Character Toys & Collectibles,” published by Random House-House of Collectibles in 2008, for a list of Buster Brown, Ed McConnell, and Froggy memorabilia.

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QUESTION: I have an RCA 78 rpm record entitled “Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band.” Does it have any value?

– V, Janesville, Wis.

ANSWER: Your record is from the RCA Victor “Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band” children’s album. The storybook album was part of the Little Nipper Series. When Nipper barked on the record, the listener turned the storybook page.

Paul Wing wrote and narrated the text. Norman Leyden composed the music. Henri René conducted. Paul Wing provided the voice for dozens of RCA Victor children’s records. There were two releases of “Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band”—the first in 1939-1940 and the second in 1950. The cover art also changed. The Little Black Sambo image on the 1950 cover is far less stereotyped than that found on the 1939-1940 cover.

TRIVIA QUIZ: Paul Wing provided the narration for the first recording of what popular 1939 children’s tale?

Paul Wing hosted “Paul Wing’s Spelling Bee” on radio in the late 1930s. Milton Bradley issued a game based on the show in 1938. In 1940, almost a decade before the first television network, the show premiered on W2XBS Television in New York, thus making Wing one of the first, if not the first, television game show hosts.

A complete 1950 “Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band” unit consists of the 20-page storybook and two records. All you have is one of the records. Alone, it has little to no value.

Peter Muldavin’s “The Complete Guide to Vintage Children’s Records, Identification & Value Guide,” published by Collector Books in 2007, values the 1939-1940 RCA Victor Bluebird B-17, three-record, “Little Black Sambo’s Jungle Band” album at $45 in good to very good condition and $90 in excellent to mint condition. The 1950 RCA Victor Y-344, two-record, storybook album is valued at $40 in good to very good condition and $80 in excellent to mint condition.

Muldavin has made the storybook and records available for listening/viewing on his Web site. It is a fun visit

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QUESTION: I have a Flexible Flyer sled made in Philadelphia, Pa. by S. L. A. & Co. It is marked Model 2F. What is its value?

– SW, Scotland, UK, via e-mail

ANSWER: The S. L. Allen Company of Philadelphia manufactured Flexible Flyer sleds as well as sleds under other brand names such as FireFly and Yankee Clipper. The F series, the first with an articulated bumper, was introduced in 1928. The bumper came in two variations: (1) two pieces joined in the middle and (2) two pieces covered by a single piece. The latter configuration became the standard for later sled models. The first variation is harder to find and more desired by collectors.

Although the G series was introduced in 1930, S. L. Allen Company continued to make the F series into 1931. The number indicates the length of the sled—the lower the number, the smaller the sled.

The value of your sled very much depends on its condition. Maximum value requires that the decal is intact without any damage, the varnish remains smooth, and the runners retain their period paint. In fine condition, your sled has a value between $50 and $65. Played-with value is around $25.

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QUESTION: I have a 1979 John Wayne ceramic decanter. The alcohol is gone. Can you tell me what it is worth?

– LW, via e-mail

ANSWER: Mike Wayne Distilling Co. issued three John Wayne decanters. The first, measuring 10½ inches high and 7in wide, features a colored, three-quarter length photograph of John Wayne. The decanter’s border is 23k gold gilt. The second, measuring 19 inches high, is a statue of a standing Wayne. The third, measuring10½ inches tall, is a bronze-colored ceramic bust resting on a black base.

The missing whisky is a plus. All states prohibit the sale of liquor without a license. If you attempt to sell a collectible decanter with the liquor intact, you are in violation of the law.

The portrait decanter is the most common. One example sold on eBay for $20. Another example mint-in-the-box sold for $55. A realistic price for a bottle sans box is around $15.

The statue decanter is the hardest bottle to find. It commands in excess of $45. The bust decanter is relatively common. Its value is around $25.

In searching the Internet, I found several listings for a Jim Beam John Wayne bottle. However, the bottle does not resemble Wayne. This is most likely a case of misattribution. The bottle is probably the cowboy from one of the Beam western series.

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TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWER: Paul Wing narrated the first recording of Robert May’s story about Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. May wrote the story for Montgomery Ward’s 1939 Christmas promotion.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Thomas Nast Christmas Book, Mardi Gras Favor

Harry Rinker — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:19:33 +0000

QUESTION: I have a copy of Thomas Nast’s “Christmas Drawings for the Human Race.” The title page reads: “New York / Harper & Brothers / Printers & Publishers / Franklin Square M DCCC XC [1890].” The copyright is 1889. The book measures 8 ½ inches by 11 inches. There are 66 illustrations listed in the table of contents. The cover features a picture of Santa Claus in his sleigh and Mother Goose flying on a goose. It appears as though they are racing. I have heard that this book with an 1889 copyright is worth more than if it had an 1890 copyright. What help can you provide?

– RS, Janesville, WI, via e-mail

ANSWER: Thomas Nast (1840-1902), a political cartoonist who worked primarily for “Harper’s Weekly,” is largely responsible for the modern-day image of Santa Claus. Instead of the St. Nicholas’ bishop’s robes, Santa is a white-bearded, pot-bellied gentleman wearing a red suit trimmed in white and black boots.

Nast left “Harper’s Weekly” in 1886 at a time when he was experiencing financial difficulties due to failed investments. In 1889, Nast gathered together the Christmas drawings he did for “Harper’s Weekly,” added some new drawings, and published the collection as “Christmas Drawings for the Human Race.” “Harper’s” retained the copyright. Over the years, the five Nast children served as models in some of the drawings. The book was released during the Christmas 1890 season. It was a success and helped Nast resolve his debts.

When Nast left “Harper’s,” he tried his hand at oil paintings. His efforts received a lukewarm reception. In1901, President Roosevelt, a patron on the arts, appointed Nast as Consul General in Ecuador. Nast died there of yellow fever in 1902.

[Author’s Aside: Roosevelt also secured a federal clerk’s position in the New York City Custom House for poet Edwin Arlington Robinson.]

I was not able to find any reference to copies of “Christmas Drawings for the Human Race” that had an 1890 copyright page. It is common for copyright dates to differ from printing date. I did find two cover variations. Your book has a value between $900 and $1,000.

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QUESTION: I recently purchased a letter opener that appears to be from the 1910 New Orleans Mardi Gras. It has a relief image of King Rex at the top and “Rex 1910” at the bottom. It is 10 ½ inches in length and appears to have some type of gold plating. What can you tell me about it?

– FS, Ballinger, TX, via e-mail

ANSWER: Your letter opener is a Rex souvenir from the 1910 New Orleans Mardi Gras. I found several identical examples that had been offered for sale while searching the Internet. Hence, the letter opener is a common rather than scarce item.

There appears to have been several variations. One reference described the letter opener as made from brass. Another indicated that it was gold plated. The pictures that accompanied your e-mail suggest it was made from base metal and then plated. Examples where the plating survived are worth more than those on which the plating has been lost.

New Orleans celebrated Carnival and “Boeuf Gras,” the giving up of flesh for Lent, from the earliest days of the town’s founding. In 1857, a group formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, and staged the first nighttime parade. In 1872, Rex was introduced in attempt to bring order to the street parades and honor the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, who was visiting the city. Rex, whose motto is “Pro Bono Publico” (for the public good), staged the first day-time parade. Initially, Rex rode a horse. The first Rex Ball, a costume but non-mask affair, was held in 1873.

Purple, green and gold, the colors of Rex, are the official colors of Mardi Gras. Rex arrives in the city on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) aboard a barge. His meeting with King Zulu marks the official start of Carnival. On Mardi Gras day, King Rex received the keys to the city.

[Author’s Aside: While Rex is king of the Carnival, he does not use “King” in front of his name. The same applies to Comus. Many of the other Krewes do have individuals who use “King” as part of their name.]

I spoke with Mary Lou Eichhorn, reference associate at The Williams Research Center. She provided me with the following information taken from Arthur Burton La Cour’s “New Orleans Masquerade,” published in 1957. Friends of Fable was the Rex theme in 1910. The ball was held on Feb. 8, 1910, in the Athenaeum. Hunter C. Leak was Rex and Amelia Baldwin was the queen. It was customary for krewes to provide favors for ball attendees. These included ashtrays, letter openers, mugs and pins.

There are several Mardi Gras museums, including Ark-La-Tex Mardi Gras Museum in Bossier City, La. and the Treasure Chest Casino Mardi Gras Museum in Rivertown, Kenner, La. The Williams Research Center in New Orleans has an extensive collection of Mardi Gras material.

The value of your letter opener is between $150 and $175. Examples with the gilding intact bring more.

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QUESTION: I purchased six, color-pencil cartoon caricatures of baseballs player—pitcher, batter, and umpire—at an estate sale for $5 each. The uniforms suggest 1950s. They are signed either “JL” or “J. Liello.” I cannot locate any information about the artist. Each picture is framed. The drawings measure 9in x 12in inside the double mat. The back is covered with a brown paper, which I suppose I should remove to check whether the backing is acid free. Did I get a good deal?

– SD, Orlando, Fla., via e-mail

ANSWER: I enjoyed looking at the pictures that accompanied your e-mail. If an amateur, the artist is very talented. I also was unable to find any information about the artist. The pictures, however, are strong and stand on their own.

I found markings/logos for two teams—the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians. Both teams trained on Florida’s west coast during the 1950s. There is no doubt in my mind that these pictures were done during spring training, and you are correct in your assumption that they date from the 1950s.

I recommend you remove the paper backing and check to see (1) if the back board is acid free and (2) how the drawings are held in place. Look at the bevels of the mats. If the bevels are dark brown, then the fill within the top and bottom sheet of the mat is wood pulp. If this proves to be the case, replace the front mat as well. If the drawings are glued in some fashion to the backboard, ask the person at the frame shop if they have the ability to remove the drawings without damaging them. If the answer is no, take them to a paper conservator.

Your drawings are an example of an object whose value increases as more is known about it. Start by visiting the Cardinals and Indians training facilities. Take your drawings or pictures of them with you. Perhaps there is an old timer who might remember “JL.” If this fails, try the local libraries and historical societies in the area. Given the artist’s skill level, these are not the only drawings he has done.

At the moment, your drawings have a value between $45 and $55. Arranged in pairs or sets of three, the value per pair or set would be enhanced by 25 to 35 percent.

If you are able to identify the artist or date the caricatures to a specific date, their value will increase by a third to a half. You did well.

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QUESTION: I have an unopened box containing a Barbie doll dressed in a purple dress. The box reads: “An Exclusive Avon Special Edition.” The story of Mrs. Albee is printed on the inside of the foldout cover. I have a five-year-old granddaughter. Should I save the doll or let her play with it?

– SS, via e-mail

ANSWER: Mrs. Persus Foster Eames Albee (December 7, 1836 – 1914) is known at the “First Avon Lady.” David McConnell, the founder of the California Perfume Company (later known as Avon), hired Mrs. Albee to supervise the daily operations of perfume sales. Her title was “General Traveling Agent.” She resided in Winchester, N.H.

Mrs. Albee developed a sales plan involving “depot agents,” women who would sell product door-to-door in their neighborhood. By 1903, 10,000 agents were at work. Attempts currently are underway to raise funds to furnish a room to honor Mrs. Albee in the historic Sheraton House operated by the Winchester, New Hampshire Historical Society.

Avon contracted with Mattel to produce at least two Barbie exclusives of Mrs. Albee. The first edition was issued in 1997. It featured Barbie wearing a lavender taffeta gown with tiered layers near the waist, puffy sleeves, and an elegant train with bustles in back. The taffeta hat features a bow in back and gold, pink, and purple roses. The initial sales price was $129.

Forget the $129. No one in their right mind is going to pay it. I found buy-it-now postings for $75 and $71.49. I am not certain anyone in their right mind is going to pay these either.

EBay features a number of first and second edition Mrs. Albee Barbies. Prices range from $21.99 to $24.99 plus shipping. More than 75 percent of the buyers bought them as a speculative investment, hoping to sell them at a profit five to 10 years later. More than 10 years have past and Mattel’s Mrs. Albee Avon exclusive is selling on the secondary market for 20-cents on the dollar. I do not foresee this changing in the years ahead.

Follow your heart. Your granddaughter is going to get far more enjoyment playing with Mrs. Albee than you will from selling it.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: 1950 Phillies Autographed Team Photo, Bailey’s Yum Teacups

Harry Rinker — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:23:51 +0000

QUESTION: Many years ago, my father gave me a photograph of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids that features the players, coaches, bat boys and trainers. It measures 43 inches by 19 inches. Each of the players has signed his name over his chest. One of the trainers and the three bat boys did not sign it. What is it worth?

– DL, Wernersville, Pa, via e-mail

ANSWER: The 1950 Phillies made me a New York Yankees fan. I was 9 years old and living in Hellertown, Pa., when the Philadelphia Phillies won the 1950 National League pennant. I played first base in sandlot and Little League, using an Eddie Waitkus—the Phillies’ first baseman—embossed-autograph first baseman’s glove. Although my family had a television by that time, I listened to the games on the radio.

I collected baseball cards, attracted to them in large part by the sugar-sweet bubble gum that came in the pack. My collection included cards of Richie Ashburn, Dale Ennis, Granny Hamner, Jim Konstanty, Robin Roberts, Andy Seminick, Dick Sisler, Curt Simmons, Eddie Waitkus and other Phillies.

TRIVIA QUIZ: Robert Redford’s character of Roy Hobbs in “The Natural” (1984) was based on what Philadelphia Phillies player?

There was no way the Phillies could lose the World Series, especially after a tight pennant race with the Brooklyn Dodgers; or so I thought at the time. The Whiz Kids became the Wheeze Kids, losing four straight. Preferring to root for a winner and aware of the Yankees’ past glories, I switched my allegiance following the final out. Even though the Yankees have had some tough years since 1950, I rest content with my decision.

I have seen the large team picture. What I cannot remember is whether it had the signatures of the players on it.

My initial concern is not whether the signatures are correct but if they are printed as part of the photograph. Use a 10-power loupe to examine the signatures. If they all have a solid black consistency, chances are they are printed. If you can see breaks (pauses) in the signatures, variations in the strength of the lines, slight indentations in the picture’s surface, and a variety of different color inks, then the chances are great that the signatures were added to the photograph.

If this proves to be the case, the next step is to determine if each individual person signed the photograph or if one or two individuals did the signatures. Look at the slope of the signatures. If the slope is consistent for large groups of names, then a single person did the signing.

Assuming the signatures are the actual signatures of each player, coach and trainer, the next consideration is clarity and condition. Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts—members of that team—are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, a definite plus.

If the signatures are legible and the picture in good condition (have you noticed how many ifs it took to get to this point), the value of your autographed 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kid photograph is between $500 and $600.

[Author’s Aside: I no longer have my embossed-autograph Eddie Waitkus first baseman’s glove. Two years ago, I did buy a small-size Waitkus glove, but I would love to have a full-size model. Does anyone have one for sale?]

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QUESTION: I am seeking information abut the 1996 Bailey’s Yum teacups and teapot set. I have a period brochure that shows the boy and girl cups and a girl teapot, which they call a coffeepot. The order form only allows you to order the cups and matching creamer and sugar. Were any teapots/coffeepots offered for sale? A spoon is not mentioned in the brochure, but I see them offered for sale. I also discovered an early 1930s English cup whose design closely resembles the Bailey’s cups. It is possible that the Bailey cups were modeled after this design?

– KP, Sandusky, Ohio

ANSWER: Winking cups is the name I encountered most frequently in my research for your Bailey ceramic series.

Is it possible the designer of the Bailey pieces was familiar with the early cups? Anything is possible, but I have my doubts. EBay sellers apparently think this is the case. I found one listing that read: “This whimsical collection is based on a 1930s style pattern.”

The teapot is a coffeepot; the tea cups are coffee cups. Bailey’s Irish Cream, a liqueur, offered the set in 1996. While I suppose you might be able to discover someone who adds Bailey’s Irish Cream to their tea, you are far more likely to find individuals who add it to their coffee.

The set includes a male cup, a female cup, a special female cup with a “Helen Hunt” signature, coffeepot, creamer, sugar and cookie jars. The Helen Hunt cups were a premium giveaway for the Los Angeles Youth Network. I was not able to document the existence of a spoon.

A set consisting of a coffeepot, two cups, creamer, and sugar sold on eBay on Nov. 24 for $142.50 plus $10 shipping. There were 34 bids, although not 34 bidders. Several bidders bid more than once. Individual cups sell in the $3 to $6 range. The Helen Hunt cups are available on the Internet for prices ranging from $8 to $10 each. Given this, the price for which the set sold was a strong one. Apparently, as you suspected, value rests primarily in the coffeepot and cookie jar, both of which, based on their frequent appearance on eBay, were available for purchase.

These Bailey premiums are less than 15 years old. Hence, they fall under Rinker’s 30-Year Rule: “For the first 30 years of any thing’s life, all its value is speculative.” I have no doubt that the current prices are highly speculative. Now is the time to sell. In 20 years, you will be able to buy these same items for pennies on the dollar.

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QUESTION: I purchased a two-pound lot of costume jewelry for $40 at a local auction. An absolutely gorgeous 2 ½-inch-diameter, star-shaped broach was the primary reason I bought the lot. The piece has a hand-painted, floral motif oval in each of the star’s five points. Blue faceted rhinestones adorn the rest of the piece. There is no maker’s mark or other identification. A jeweler friend of mine confirmed that it is in almost perfect condition. I would appreciate your thoughts about my purchase.

– RH, Elkins, WV

ANSWER: The picture that accompanied your letter was very helpful. The axiom that “better pieces are marked” does not always hold true, especially if you are viewing an object aesthetically. Some mass-produced costume jewelry, such as the example you own, was well designed.

Your piece dates from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s, a determination I made based on its design and clasp. It may have had matching earrings and a bracelet. Costume jewelry often was sold as sets during this period

Its appeal is enhanced by its strong “blue” tone. There is a color pecking order in respect to sales in the antiques and collectibles field—blue, red, green, yellow, brown, black, and white. “If it is ugly (not the case with your pin) and blue, it will sell” is a trade truism.

While most costume jewelry reference books focused on marked pieces, Katie Joe and Ronna Lee Aikins’ “20th Century Costume Jewelry, 1900-1980: Identification & Value Guide, Second Edition” (Krause, 2008) contains many unmarked pieces. I am reluctant to cite costume jewelry book prices because they reflect field asking prices as opposed to a more realistic value predicated on what the identical piece would realize on eBay.

While I was aware that unmarked costume jewelry often is auctioned in large sized lots, I was not aware that weight was a method to determine lot size. After thinking about it, it makes as much sense as some of the other lotting practices I have seen.

Your piece is delightful. If you purchased it at an antiques mall or show, you would have had to pay between $30 and $40. Hopefully, there were other pieces in the lot which pleased you as well. Otherwise, you paid full market price to acquire the piece you admired.

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QUESTION: I picked up a copy of the Bill of Rights at a yard sale. It is marked “In commemoration of 200 yr. anniversary of the Bill of Rights / Courtesy of Philip Morris Companies / In cooperation with the National Archives.” It is written on what appears to be very old paper. Does it have any value?

– CB, Coplay, Pa.

ANSWER: The answer is no. Photographic reproductions of historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are a dime a dozen. Even late 19th-century reprints have little to no value.

These and other documents are often printed on what appears to be old parchment paper. Actually, it is modern paper stained with tea. You can buy these photographic reproductions at historical sites, such as Independence Hall, across America.

At least Philip Morris had the courtesy to include the reprint information on your example. Many photographic reproductions are not marked.

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TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWER: Eddie Waitkus.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the 20th century. Selected queries will be answered on this site. Harry cannot provide personal answers. You can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered. Please indicate that these are questions for WorthPoint.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Things of Science, Holly Hobbie Dinnerware, USS Kentucky Menu

Harry Rinker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:20:58 +0000

QUESTION: I have several Things of Science kits that I received through the mail when I was a youngster. I tried to find information about them but have not been successful. What can you tell me about their history and value?

– MP, Kempton, PA

ANSWER: I only applied to two universities for my undergraduate work—Lehigh University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I chose Lehigh and, as Robert Frost said in his “The Road not Taken”: “that has made all the difference.” Although dedicated and loyal to Lehigh, I still admit I have the utmost regard for MIT. Hence, I was delighted when I discovered the answer to your question on MIT’s Web site at http://ecg.mit.edu/george/tos/.

The MIT Things of Science home page contains a detailed history of the kits and a complete listing of every kit documented to date. The following is a summary of the historical information:

E. W. Scripps (1854-1926), the newspaper publisher, established the nonprofit Science Service in 1921. The organization’s goal was to provide articles and information about science to the media.

Watson Davis (1896-1967), director of Science Service from 1928 to 1967, was the founding father of the Things of Science program. It was launched in November 1940. Initially, it sent out its science kits as an attention-getter for its story releases. By 1946, the subscriber base was evenly split between individuals, school groups and science clubs.

The initial mailing boxes were brown. The first blue box appears in October 1943. The Science Service obtained the items it put in its kits via donation. As a result, it instituted a 1,000-subscriber limit. Demand was so great the subscriber number was expanded to 5,000 in 1944, 7,000 in 1946, and 12,000 in 1952. The flyer for the 1957 expansion read: “Things of Science: member is sent a different box of unusual ‘Things’ monthly like dinosaur bone, lava, glass fibers, oil—with detailed descriptions, suggested experiments, and museum-type labels. $4 per year. New memberships limited.” Material included in 1960s kits ranged from copper ore and flexible magnets to a polyprophlene hinge and a silkworm’s cocoon.

Science Service ended its production and distribution of Things of Science kits in 1980. Andrew E. Svenson, Jr., the son of a children’s book writer, purchased the company and continued to create new kits until 1989, at which time the right to produce Things of Science kits reverted back to the Science Service. Four hundred and fifty-seven archive boxes of Things of Science records are housed in the Smithsonian as Record Unit 7091.

The exact number of kits produced is open to interpretation. Prior to the 338 kits issued between 1940 and 1968, there were 20 to 22 kits that were not numbered. There was a 25A kit. Kits issued after 1969 were not numbered. In fact, it is difficult to establish a year for some of the kits. The copyright date on the information in a kit is the best dating information.

Things of Science kits appear for sale on eBay and other Internet direct sale Web sites. Kits sell for between $5 and $15. Value considerations include age (earlier kits usually bring a higher price), completeness (many kits had extra parts in addition to the object and booklet), condition and the period mailing box.

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QUESTION: I have eight-place settings of Holly Hobby china, complete with creamer and sugar, serving platter, large serving bowl, and other accessories. The plates have a silver rim, a Holly Hobby blue band, and a picture of Holly Hobby in the center. I bought the dinnerware while living in California in the early 1970s. I know there were not many full dinnerware services made. What is mine worth today?

– SQ, via e-mail

ANSWER: In your e-mail you referred to your dinnerware as “Holly Hobby.” Every Web search referred me to Holly Hobbie. I am moving forward assuming you have Holly Hobbie dinnerware.

When I lay me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep, I ask the good Lord to save me from ever having to write about certain collecting categories, for example, Avon bottles, My Little Pony, Bratz dolls, and, of course, Holly Hobbie. The good Lord may grant Garth Brook’s unanswered prayers, but he certainly did not grant mine.

Holly Hobbie is a real person and a fictional character. Denise Holly Ulinskas, who married Douglas Hobbie, authored “Toot and Puddle,” the book that introduced the world to the fictional Holly Hobbie.

Holly Hobbie took off when American Greetings obtained licensing rights in the early 1970s. Rex Connors and Bob Childers, members of American Greeting’s Humorous Planning department, helped create support characters and merchandise. Knickerbocker Toys produced a line of rag dolls in 1974.

Holly Hobbie had a face lift in 2006, supported by a Nick Jr. made-for-TV movie “Holly Hobbie and Friends: Surprise Party.” Mattel issued several Holly Hobbie and friend dolls in the same year, supporting them with separate outfits.

I found several versions of Holly Hobbie dinnerware, but not the pattern you described. It is scarce, or the pattern name is incorrect and I am in the wrong ballpark entirely.

I did find a 20-piece Holly Hobbie dinnerware service in another pattern with an opening bid request of $199 on eBay. There were no bids. Perhaps I need to give eBay buyers more credit than in the past for staying away from a rotten deal when they smell one.

A realistic value for your dinnerware service is between $75 and $100. Finding a buyer should not be difficult. There are worldwide Holly Hobbie collectors. List your dinnerware on eBay. Its clientele are global. Ask for an opening bid of $50 and let it fly. Do not place a hidden reserve. As with all antiques and collectibles, your dinnerware is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. Place your bet and take your chances.

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QUESTION: I have an embossed leather Nov. 30, 1905, menu, measuring approximately 3 inches by 5 inches, from the USS Kentucky. The ship was apparently in Norfolk, Va., for Thanksgiving dinner that year. The menu lists coffee and cigars. A great uncle served on the ship. Any information you can provide would be helpful.

– MD, Bowie, TX

ANSWER: Four ships were named after Kentucky, the 15th State in the Union. The first was the CSS Kentucky, a Confederate transport that was captured by the Union’s Mississippi Flotilla in 1863. The USS Kentucky (BB-6) was a Kearsarge class battleship (March 24, 1898-Jan. 23, 1924) that was part of the Great White Fleet. The USS Kentucky (BB-66), an Iowa-class battleship, had her contract cancelled during construction in 1947. Today the USS Kentucky (SSBN-737), an Ohio-class submarine, patrols the worldwide seas.

The USS Kentucky (BB-6) was built by the Newport News and Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. She was commissioned on Oct. 26, 1900, and set sail on Oct. 25 for the Far East. The ship remained on Asiatic Station duty until she sailed from Manila to return to the United States on March 13, 1904. The USS Kentucky was overhauled in 1904. She then joined the North Atlantic Fleet transporting troops to Cuba in October 1905. She returned to the North Atlantic Fleet in mid-October.

While it is possible that the “Norfolk” on your menu indicates the location where the ship was built, it is more likely the location of the ship on that date. The USS Kentucky joined 16 other battleships on the famous White Fleet cruise around the world from 1907 to 1908. The ship was in and out of the service several times between late 1908 and 1916. The USS Kentucky served as a training ship during World War I. The end came in 1924 when Dravo Construction Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. bought the ship for scrap.

Meals aboard early 20th Century American battleships were often formal affairs. Menus were printed and cigars were served. Officers kept souvenirs from the more important meals.

Your menu appeals to a variety of collectors; for example, USS Kentucky, Great White Fleet, Kentucky commonwealth, menu and cigar collectors. Obviously, some value it higher than others. Assuming your menu is in very good or better condition (a tricky call when leather is involved), its value is between $35 and $45.

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QUESTION: I have 12 Royal Doulton blue and white Yale University plates dated 1930s on the reverse. Each features a transfer of a different university scene. They are all in good shape except for one that has a chip on the edge. I would like an estimate of what they are worth.

– A G-B, Ripon, WI

ANSWER: Wedgwood manufactured your Yale University plates. Yale was one of dozens of universities to issue commemorative plate series in the 1920s and early 1930s.

The average price for a 1920s-1930s Wedgwood university plate is between $45 and $55. Dealers tend to ask between $70 and $80 per plate, assuming the principal buyer will be an alumnus of that institution who is prepared to pay whatever it takes to acquire the plate.

The chipped plate destroys pair or set value. However, it is more likely that you will obtain more money if the plates are sold separately than as a unit. The unit buyer would expect at minimum 25 percent discount.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

You can listen and participate in “WHATCHA GOT?,” Harry’s antiques-and-collectibles radio call-in show on Sunday mornings between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern Time. It streams live on the Genesis Communications Network.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the 20th century. Selected letters will be answered on this site. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5093 Vera Cruz Road, Emmaus, PA 18049. You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered. Please indicate that these are questions for WorthPoint.

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Q & A with Harry Rinker: Marwal Bull, Reed and Barton Bells, Heisey Syrup Pitcher

Harry Rinker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:14:03 +0000

QUESTION: I own a large plaster of Paris sculpture of a bull that is painted dark brown. An impressed oval-stamp with “MARWAL / IND / INC” in its border is located near the right rear leg of the bull. When was this sculpture made? What is its value?

– LR, Titusville, FL

ANSWER: An Internet search revealed that Art Marwal Industries, Inc., currently doing business as Rum Vin Import, is a “private company categorized under Art goods and supplies and located in Miami, FL. Our records show it was established in 1962 and incorporated in Florida.”

A Polynesian craze swept across America in the 1950s. James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” (1948) and the Broadway musicals “South Pacific” (1949, movie 1958) and “The King and I” (1951, movie 1956) served as catalysts. Tiki gods and other South Seas paraphernalia decorated bamboo bars from home basements to Trader Vic’s, a restaurant franchise still found in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and other locations. The publication of Michener’s “Hawaii” (1959) chronicled the pinnacle of America’s Polynesian fascination.

Marwal offered a wide variety of plaster of Paris statuary, among which were several variations of head and shoulder busts of Polynesian/Hawaiian woman/girls and men/boys. Spanish themes included head and shoulder busts of conquistadors, bullfighters and senoritas. Reproductions of famous sculptures featured Michelangelo’s “Moses” and “Pieta” and Michel Lucchesi’s “The Ascent of Man.” The garden statuary line had an 18in ostrich.

This subject matter suggests the company was in business in advance of its 1962 incorporation. An analysis of the themes of the Marwal pieces offered for sale on eBay indicates the company withdrew from the decorative/reproduction plaster of Paris sculpture market by the end of the 1960s. Hence, your bull was most likely made between the late 1950s and the mid-1960s and was part of Warmal’s Spanish theme line. Olé!

Several dozen Warmal plaster of Paris listings appear daily on eBay. Comparing auction sales results with “By it Now” offers and store lists reveals a large monetary gap between all subcategories of Warmal items except one—nudes. My readers are clever enough to know why.

Many items listed for sale failed to attract bids, even though initial bid requests ranged from $8.99 to $24.99. Several Polynesian head and shoulder busts sold for less than $15. Scarce forms do sell above the $100 mark. The ability to separate common from scarce pieces falls within the provenance of the advanced collector.

Damaged items failed to attract any bids. The Marwall survival rate is high. Buyers are willing to wait and pay a premium price for an example in fine or better condition. The three pictures that accompanied your letter show your bull sculpture has paint loss along the edge of the base and at numerous spots on its body, thus negating its value to collectors. If you desire to sell, any value above $10 makes you a winner.

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QUESTION: My mother has a complete set of Reed and Barton’s “The 12 Days of Christmas” silver-plated bells. She wants to sell them, but I am scared to death that she will get hosed by someone on eBay. What is the minimum price she should expect?

– TC, Aberdeen, WA, via e-mail

ANSWER: The picture that accompanied your e-mail was critical to identifying the correct bell series. Reed & Barton issued several bell and ornament series based on the 12 days of Christmas. One series was a flat bell ornament series; another, still ongoing, is a three-dimensional bell ornament series. Your mother’s series was issued between 1977 and 1982. A complete unit consists of the bell, the box, and accompanying literature. All three components must be present to achieve maximum value.

The Reed & Barton Web site provides this brief history of the company: “Founded in 1824, Reed & Barton enjoys a reputation as one of the country’s foremost marketers of fine tableware and giftware . . . Today the Reed & Barton name graces fine flatware, dinnerware, crystal, giftware, and picture frames, as well as a wide variety of expertly-made handcrafted flatware and jewelry chests. Reed & Barton is also the exclusive distributor of Belleek Fine Parian China in the United States . . .”

Your mother’s Reed & Barton bells were manufactured when the collector edition/limited edition collectors craze was at its peak. Many individuals bought them as investments. The speculative secondary market collapsed in the mid-1980s. Many of these items now sell for a fraction of their initial cost.

Since the bells are silver plated, they have no melt value. Further, the picture shows only the bells. Where are the boxes and accompanying literature?

“Which value is the right value?” is being asked more and more frequently in today’s antiques and collectibles trade. “Whose value can you trust?” is a second question worth considering.

If you believe the values from replacements.com, you will be a very happy camper. Individual bells without boxes are priced at values ranging from $45.99 to $99.99. The box and literature appear to add another $60. Before dismissing Replacements’ “retail” values, be aware that it has buyers who pay these amounts.

If you believe prices realized on eBay, you have a much more realistic understanding of the true secondary market value, albeit you are likely to be a very unhappy camper. A complete set of the 1977-1982 Reed & Barton “The 12 Days of Christmas” bells without boxes sold on eBay on September 6, 2009 for $79.95 plus shipping. The average cost was between $7.50 and $8 per bell. That there was only one bidder is further bad news. Now that he/she is gone, who is left to buy the next set? A Number 7 (swan) bell is listed for $10.50 or “best offer.”

You have several disposal options. First, you can write Replacements, Ltd. and ask what interest, if any, they might have in buying your mother’s set. Replacements’ offer to buy depends on the amount of customer demand it has. They have four bells in stock for all but one bell in the series. Second, try eBay. If you do, list the full set. Do not sell the bells individually. Craigslist is a third alternative. If you decide to use the Internet, list the bells in mid- to late November. Take advantage of the seasonal mindset. Fourth, consider passing the set down in the family. Of course, as is too often the case these days, none of the kids, grandchildren, or others may want it. Finally, consider making a charitable donation. Your conscience is your guide as to the deduction amount you or your mother takes. Make a copy of Replacements’ price list. Wipe the smile off your face.

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QUESTION: I have a Heisey syrup pitcher. It has a clear crystal body with an etched floral design that wraps around each side. It has a very smooth stainless top, with a thumb spring opener. It stands 4 ½ inches tall and is marked with an H in a diamond on one side of the spout. It belonged to my mother, who has been dead for 30 years. What can you tell me about it?

– MS, Shelbyville, IN

ANSWER: Augustus H. Heisey (1842-1922) founded the A. H. Heisey Company in 1895. After serving in the Civil War, Heisey became a sales clerk for Ripley & Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. He advanced to salesman. In 1870 he married Susan N. Duncan, whose father George Duncan, Sr., purchased Ripley & Company, renaming it Geo. Duncan & Sons. Heisey eventually became part owner.

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Heisey left Geo. Duncan & Sons to start his own firm. A. H. Heisey manufactured high quality tableware and glass figurines. Automobile headlights and Holophane Glassware lighting fixtures enhanced the company’s financial line.

Glass syrup pitchers became a standard household tabletop item during the later half of the Victorian era and remained so until the 1960s when commercial syrup containers went directly from the refrigerator or storage cabinet to the table. Syrup pitchers were a popular form collectible through the final two-thirds of the 20th century. The number of syrup pitcher collectors is diminishing, albeit a small but dedicated group still exists in New England. The same holds true for Heisey collectors, albeit their geographic base is broader.

Heisey sold blanks to engraving houses that applied the decoration and marketed the finish product. A single syrup body can be found in multiple variations. Dealer asking prices for Heisey syrup pitchers with floral engraving range from $50 to $75, while $65 appears to be the average asking price.

A seller recently posted a1910-1920s Heisey floral engraved syrup pitcher on eBay. With five days to go, no one opted to open the bidding at the requested $20 minimum.

Realistically, think $45 to $50 for your syrup pitcher. Further, its value is decreasing rather than rising. The number of people who collect—no, the number of people who know and care about—Heisey are dying. Young collectors are not replacing older collectors. If you are thinking of selling, do it now—the longer you wait, the less you will get.

Go to the Heisey Museum Web site to learn more about Heisey. When your travels take you to the greater Columbus, Ohio area, consider taking time to visit the Heisey Museum in Newark. Tell them Harry sent you.

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QUESTION: I have a short, stubby, white glazed, earthenware vase that belonged to my grandmother. The vase’s tapered cylindrical body ends in a high, waist neck and slightly flared rim. Gold highlights accent the raised geometric motif on the rim and center of the body. It measures 6 inches high. The bottom is marked with a “W” and “P” flanking a crest featuring a bird’s head on each side flanking a central torch beneath which is “LA BELLE / CHINA.” Is it valuable?

– RD, via e-mail

ANSWER: When I first saw the picture attached to your e-mail, I thought it was shaving mug or small vase from a toilet set. While I still think there is a possibility it is a vase from a toilet set, I favor an independent form, i.e., not part of a set, based on its size.

The “W” and “P” indicate the piece was made by the Wheeling Pottery Company, founded in 1879. In 1887 Wheeling Pottery created La Belle Pottery Company, combining the two in 1889. Wheeling Pottery had four potteries—Avon, La Belle (South side of Wheeling), Ohio Valley (North Wheeling), and Riverside (North Wheeling). All of them made glazed-earthenware (semi-porcelain) artware and sanitary wares.

Your vase has limited decorative value. Its appeal rests primarily with individuals decorating in a Country or Victorian look. Its value, assuming no damage, is between $20 and $30.

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Rinker Enterprises and Harry L. Rinker are on the Internet. Check out his Web site.

You can listen and participate in “WHATCHA GOT?,” Harry’s antiques-and-collectibles radio call-in show on Sunday mornings between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern Time. It streams live on the Genesis Communications Network.

“SELL, KEEP OR TOSS? HOW TO DOWNSIZE A HOME, SETTLE AN ESTATE, AND APPRAISE PERSONAL PROPERTY” (House of Collectibles, an imprint of the Random House Information Group), Harry’s latest book, is available at your favorite bookstore and via Harry’s Web site: http://www.harryrinker.com

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the 20th century. Selected letters will be answered on this site. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5093 Vera Cruz Road, Emmaus, PA 18049. You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered. Please indicate that these are questions for WorthPoint.

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